Thill-support.



No. 670,358. Patented Mar. l9, 19m.

' n. T. anussms.

THILL SUPPORT.

(Application filed July 11, 1900.)

v (No Model.)

WIw-SSGL?! a m ROBERT T. GILLESPIE, OF ROCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

THlLL-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,358, dated March 19, 1901.

Applicationfiled July 11, 1900. Serial No. 23,223- (No model.)

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention applied to the dashboard of a buggy.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the device, on an enlarged scale, showing the arm extended in a supporting position. Fig. 3

is a similar view showing the arm lowered.

Fig. 5 is a de Fig. 4 is a face view of Fig. 3. tail view in perspective, showing the inner end of the supporting-arm. Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the locking-dog detached with the cover-plate and pivoted protector.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, indicated by the line VII VII of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a face view of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a perspective detail view of a modified construction of covering device made of the same material and incorporated with a dashboard-covering. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of a modified construction of supporting-framework for the mechanism.

My invention relates to devices for supporting the thills of vehicles, particularly such as are provided with dashboards. I

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the dashboard, with which and with. the floor and frame of the vehicle-bed is incorporated an upright support 3, secured in any suitable manner to the vehicle-base and to the case 4, constituting the framework of the device, the case having a lug 4, which fits over and rests on the top of the support. The operative mechanism of the supporting device is inclosed within this case, which is preferably made of cast metal and is either supported in the manner I have described or is made integral with the lower extremity 5, provided with a flanged base 6, adapted to be secured upon the vehicle-floor. Pivoted at 7 in the upper end of the case 4:, between the sides of the case and occupying an interior space 8, is an outwardly and upwardly swinging arm 9, having at its extremity a projection or knob 10, of any suitable formation, by which the arm may be raised and which serves to retain the cross-bar of the thills in position. This arm is provided on its lower inner side with a segmental-shaped enlargement 11, terminating at the rear'end in a shoulder 12, and having on one side a socket l3, terminating at its upper end in a shoulder 14. Pivoted upon a pin'15 is the locking-dog 16, which enters a suitable recess in the front face of the case, the recess being provided with a vertical and horizontal face 17 and 18, against which abut the portions 19 and 20 of the dog, so as to limit its movement in either direction. The dog is provided with a button 21, by which it is withdrawn from engagement with the shoulder 12 of the segment, while a spring 22 is secured to the side of the frame and bears against the side of the locking-dog, so as to exert a pressure inwardly and throw it normally into position under the segment, in which position the arm 9 is held erect. By withdrawing the dog backwardly the arm 9 will fall by gravity and the projection 23 of the dog will under action of the spring ride into the depression 13, which is of sufficient depth to insure holding engagement, so as to prevent displacement and rattling. The inclined face 24 permits the arm 9 to be raised by hand Without withdrawing the dog, as it will ride up over the inclined face in the operation of raising the arm.

A retaining-plate 25 is secured upon the outer face of the case by screws or in any other suitable manner, which plate is cut out, as at 26 and 27, for passage of the stem of the operating-button 21 and of the segment 11.

The material of the dashboard-covering 2 is clamped between the outer face of the case and the inner face of the plate 25, while at the lower end of the plate is also secured a rubber buffer 28, against which the arm 9 will bear in its lowered position. In this manner it will be seen that the entire front of the case is covered by the leather of the dash, with the exception of that portion which is cutout to correspond to the slotted portion of the plate 25, thus rendering the device invisible from the front, with the exception of the arm and operating-button.

The upper end of the plate 25 is bent downfee wardly and outwardly, as at 29, and at each side lugs 30 are turned outwardly, forming pivotal bearings 31 for hinge attachment of a sliding plate 32, which plate projects over the inner top surface of the arm 9, embracing it by downwardly and inwardly turned lips 33, so as to provide a sliding engagement, by which means the hinge connection with the arm is protected from the weather and its appearance improved.

In operation the arm 9 is raised to supporting position under the cross-bar of the thill, as shown in Fig. 1, the button 10 preventing it from sliding off, and the arm is lowered by simply turning the button 21 to the left.

The device is very light, simple, inexpensive, and well adapted to the purposes in view, and while it is particularly designed for use as a thill-support it is obvious that it may be used for other similar purposes wherever suitable.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A supporting device for thills consisting of a case, means for supporting and incorporating the case with the dashboard of the vehicle, a thin-supporting arm pivoted in the upper portion of the case, a laterally-movable pivoted dog adapted to interfit with and support the arm in an erect position and means for operating the dog, substantially as set forth.

2. A supporting device for thills consisting of a case, means for supporting and incorporating the case with the dashboard of the vehicle, a thill-supporting arm pivoted in the upper portion of the case, a laterally-movable pivoted dog adapted to interfit with and support the arm in an erect position provided with a button by which the dog may be with: drawn from supporting engagement, and a spring bearing against the dog to throw it into engagement, substantially as set forth.

3. A supporting device for thills consisting of a case, means for supporting and incorporating the case with the dashboard of the vehicle, a thill-supporting arm pivoted in the upper portion of the case provided with an under segmentalenlargementhavingasocket in one side terminating in a shoulder, a laterally-movable pivoted dog adapted to be in-- serted underneath the segment to support the arm in an erect position and means for operating the dog, substantially as set forth.

4. A supporting device for thills consisting of a case, means for supporting and incorporating the case with the dashboard of the vehicle, a thill-supporting arm pivoted in the upper portion of the case and provided with an under segmental enlargement having a socket in one side terminating in a shoulder at the upper portion and having a lower inclined face, a laterally-movable pivoted dog adapted to be inserted underneath the segment to support the arm in an erect position and means for operating the dog, substantially as set forth.

5. A supporting device for thills consisting of a case, means for supporting and incorporating the case with the dashboard of the vehicle, a thill-supporting arm pivoted in the upper portion of the case, a laterally-movable pivoted dog adapted to interfit with and support the arm in an erect position, means for operating the dog and a protecting-shield pivotally mounted adjacent to the pivotal support of the arm adapted to slidingly embrace and move with the arm, substantially as set forth.

6. A supporting device for thills consisting of a case, means for supporting and incorporating the case with the dashboard of the ve hicle, a thill-supporting arm pivoted in the upper portion of the case, a laterally-movable pivoted dog adapted to interfit with and support the arm in an erect position, a releasingbutton for operating the dog, and a coverplate for the case provided with openings for the pivoted arm and releasing-button of the dog, substantially as set forth.

7. A supporting device for thills consisting of a case, means for supporting and incorporating the case with the dashboard of the vehicle, a thin-supporting arm pivoted in the upper portion of the case, a laterally-movable pivoted dog adapted to interfit with and support the arm in an erect position, a releasingbutton for operating the dog, a cover-plate for the case provided with openings for the pivoted arm and releasing-button of the dog, and a protecting-shield pivotally mounted adjacent to the pivotal support of the arm adapted to slidingly embrace and move with the arm, substantially as set forth.

8. A supporting device for thills consisting of a case, means for supporting and incorporating the case with the dashboard of the vehicle, a thin-supporting arm pivoted in the upper portion of the case, a laterally-movab1e pivoted dog adapted to interfit with and support the arm in an erect position, a releasingbutton for operating the dog, a cover-plate for the case provided with openings for the pivoted arm and releasingbutton of the dog, a protecting-shield pivotally mounted adjacent to the pivotal support of the arm adapted to slidingly embrace and move with the arm, and a buffer mounted on the front of the plate against which the arm bears in a lowered position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT T. GILLESPIE.

Witnesses:

W. R. CARGO, JoHN H. DUNN.

IIO 

